BACKGROUND: The effect of spinal adrenergic and cholinergic receptors on the anti-nociceptive effect of intrathecal ginsenosides was determined in a rat postoperative pain model. METHODS: Catheters were placed into the intrathecal space of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Postoperative pain was evoked by an incision to the plantar surface of a hind paw. Withdrawal thresholds was used as a nociceptive parameter and was measured with a von Frey filament. After observing the effect of intrathecal ginsenosides, an alpha-1 adrenergic receptor antagonist (prazosin), an alpha-2 adrenergic receptor antagonist (yohimbine), a muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist (atropine), and a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist (mecamylamine) were given 10 min before administration of the ginsenosides to analyze the contribution of spinal adrenergic and cholinergic receptors on the antinociceptive effect of ginsenosides. RESULTS: Paw incision decreased withdrawal threshold in incised site of paw, but no change of withdrawal threshold was not seen in non-incised site. The intrathecal ginsenosides increased withdrawal threshold of the incised paw in a dose-dependent manner. Pre-treatment with both prazosin and intrathecal yohimbine antagonized the anti-nociceptive effect of the ginsenosides. However, pre-treatments with atropine or mecamylamine had any effect on the antinociceptive activity of ginsenosides. CONCLUSIONS: Intrathecal ginsenosides are effective in attenuation of postoperative pain induced in the rat model. Anti-nociceptive action of ginsenosides is partially mediated by spinal adrenergic receptors, but does not appear to be related to spinal cholinergic receptors.
Animals ; Atropine ; Catheters ; Ginsenosides ; Humans ; Male ; Mecamylamine ; Pain, Postoperative ; Prazosin ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Adrenergic ; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1 ; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 ; Receptors, Cholinergic ; Receptors, Muscarinic ; Receptors, Nicotinic ; Spinal Cord ; Yohimbine

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the efficacy of a water-soluble contrast enema (WCE) in predicting anastomotic healing after a low anterior resection (LAR). METHODS: Between January 2000 and March 2012, 682 consecutive patients underwent a LAR or an ultra-low anterior resection (uLAR) and were followed up for leakage. Clinical leakage was established by using physical and laboratory findings. Radiologic leakage was identified by using retrograde WCE imaging. Abnormal radiologic features on WCE were categorized into four types based on morphology: namely, dendritic, horny, saccular, and serpentine. RESULTS: Of the 126 patients who received a concurrent diverting stoma, only two (1.6%) suffered clinical leakage due to pelvic abscess. However, 37 patients (6.7%) in the other group suffered clinical leakage following fecal diversion (P = 0.027). Among the 163 patients who received a fecal diversion, 20 showed radiologic leakage on the first WCE (eight with and 12 without a concurrent diversion); 16 had abnormal features continuously until the final WCE while four patients healed spontaneously. Eleven of the 16 patients (69%), by their surgeon's decision, underwent a stoma restoration based on clinical findings (2/3 dendritic, 3/4 horny, 5/7 saccular, 1/2 serpentine). After stoma reversal, only 2 of the 11 (19%) complained of complications related to the rectal anastomosis. CONCLUSION: WCE is helpful for detecting radiologic leakage before stoma restoration, especially in patients suffering clinical leakage after an uLAR. However, surgeons appear to opt for stoma restoration despite the persistent existence of radiologic leakage in cases with particular features on the WCE.
Abscess ; Anastomotic Leak ; Colorectal Surgery ; Enema* ; Humans ; Rectal Neoplasms*

PURPOSE: To compare the result between the third generation gamma nail (gamma 3 nail) and proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA) in the treatment of unstable intertrochanteric fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between March 2009 and June 2011, 47 consecutive patients with unstable intertrochanteric femoral fractures were treated with gamma 3 nail or PFNA. We reviewed 24 cases of gamma 3 nail and 23 cases of PFNA. Retrospectively, we evaluated the mean operation time, amount of bleeding, average union period, reduction status, change of neck shaft angle, Tip-apex distance, Cleveland index, sliding of lag screw and complication on set of telephone interview and outpatient. We also evaluated the postoperative capability of function and mobility, using 'Modified Koval index'. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the groups, which were treated with gamma 3 nail and PFNA. In addition, they did not show statistical difference. We experienced 2 cases of complication (gamma 3 nail 1 case, PFNA 1 case), which were cut-out of the femoral head. CONCLUSION: The gamma 3 nail and PFNA were seen with good results in the treatment of unstable intertrochanteric fracture.
Femoral Fractures ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Nails ; Neck ; Outpatients ; Retrospective Studies

Benign fibrous hitiocytoma of the infrapatella fat pad is very rare. It has usually do not induced a pain or a symptom because it was located deep tissue. So it was very difficult to be diagnosed. We experienced a case of deep benign fibrous histiocytoma in a 53-year-old woman. It was diagnosed by MRI. Diagnostic arthroscopic procedure was performed and the lesion was completely resected by open excision. We report a rare case of benign fibrous hitiocytoma presenting as an intra-articular tumor in the joint causing pain and limitation of movement.
Adipose Tissue ; Female ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee

BACKGROUND: The authors evaluated the effect of intrathecal mixture of ginsenosides with neostigmine on formalin-induced nociception and made further clear the role of the spinal muscarinic (M) receptors on the activity of ginsenosides. METHODS: A catheter was located in the intrathecal space of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Pain was evoked by injection of formalin solution (5%, 50 microl) to the hindpaw. Isobolographic analysis was done to characterize drug interaction between ginsenosides and neostigmine. The antagonism of ginsenosides-mediated antinociception was determined with M1 receptor antagonist (pirenzepine), M2 receptor antagonist (methoctramine), M3 receptor antagonist (4-DAMP), M4 receptor antagonist (tropicamide). The expression of muscarinic receptor subtypes was examined with RT-PCR. RESULTS: Intrathecal ginsenosides and neostigmine produced an antinociceptive effect during phase 1 and phase 2 in the formalin test. Isobolographic analysis revealed an additive interaction between ginsenosides and neostigmine in both phases. Intrathecal pirenzepine, methoctramine, 4-DAMP, and tropicamide reversed the antinociception of ginsenosides in both phases. M1-M4 receptors mRNA detected in spinal cord of naive rats and the injection of formalin decreased the expression of M1 receptor mRNA, but it had no effect on the expression of other three muscarinic receptors mRNA. Intrathecal ginsenosides little affected the expression of all of muscarinic receptors mRNA in formalin-injected rats. CONCLUSIONS: Intrathecal ginsenosides additively interacted with neostigmine in the formalin test. Furthermore, M1-M4 receptors exist in the spinal cord, all of which contribute to the antinocieption of intrathecal ginsenosides.
Animals ; Catheters ; Diamines ; Drug Interactions ; Formaldehyde ; Ginsenosides ; Humans ; Male ; Neostigmine ; Nociception ; Pain Measurement ; Piperidines ; Pirenzepine ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Muscarinic ; RNA, Messenger ; Spinal Cord ; Tropicamide

Moringa oleifera (Moringa) induced acute pancreatitis is an unreported cause of acute pancreatitis. A 48-year-old female who took Moringa for one week complained of abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Her symptoms and biochemical studies showed close accordance with acute pancreatitis. We found no other cause of acute pancreatitis except Moringa. After cessation of Moringa, her symptoms improved and biochemical studies normalized. One month later, she developed recurrent acute pancreatitis after taking Moringa. Thus we thought that Moringa was the cause of acute pancreatitis. No case of acute pancreatitis associated with Moringa has been reported, therefore we report this case.
Abdominal Pain ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Moringa oleifera* ; Moringa* ; Nausea ; Pancreatitis* ; Vomiting

Sjogren's syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disorder causing dry eye or dry mouth from the lymphocytic infiltration in the lacrimal gland and the salivary gland. Renal involvement is seen in about 20-40% of patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome. Tubulointerstitial nephritis is the most common renal complication in primary Sjogren's syndrome. However, glomerulonephritis such as membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, membranous glomerulonephritis rarely may complicate primary Sjogren's syndrome. Sjogren's syndrome associated with glomerulonephritis hasn't been reproted yet in Korea. We report nephrotic syndrome associated with membranous glomerulonephritis in a case with primary Sjogren's syndrome. Nephrotic syndrome resolved after treatment with corticosteroid.
Glomerulonephritis ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous* ; Humans ; Korea ; Lacrimal Apparatus ; Mouth ; Nephritis, Interstitial ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Salivary Glands ; Sjogren's Syndrome*

Unlike conventional T cells, innate CD8 T cells develop a memory-like phenotype in the thymus and immediately respond upon antigen stimulation, similar to memory T cells. The development of innate CD8 T cells in the thymus is known to require IL-4, which upregulates Eomesodermin (Eomes). These features are similar to that of virtual memory CD8 T cells and IL-4-induced memory-like CD8 T cells generated in the peripheral tissues. However, the relationship between these cell types has not been clearly documented. In the present study, IL-4-induced memory-like CD8 T cells generated in the peripheral tissues were compared with innate CD8 T cells in terms of phenotype and function. When an IL-4/anti-IL-4 antibody complex (IL-4C) was injected into C57BL/6 mice daily for 7 days, the Eomes(hi)CXCR3+ CD8 T cell population was markedly increased in the peripheral lymphoid organs and blood. These cells were generated from naïve CD8 T cells or accumulated via the expansion of pre-existing CD44(hi)CXCR3+ CD8 T cells. Initially, the majority of these CXCR3+ CD8 T cells expressed low levels of CD44, which was followed by the conversion to the CD44(hi) phenotype. This conversion was associated with the acquisition of enhanced effector function. After discontinuation of IL-4C treatment, Eomes expression levels gradually decreased in CXCR3+ CD8 T cells. Taken together, the results of this study demonstrate that IL-4-induced memory-like CD8 T cells generated in the peripheral lymphoid tissues are phenotypically and functionally similar to the innate CD8 T cells generated in the thymus.
Animals ; Interleukin-4* ; Lymphoid Tissue* ; Memory ; Mice ; Phenotype ; T-Lymphocytes* ; Thymus Gland

Focal myositis is an uncommon benign inflammatory myopathy of unknown cause affecting skeletal muscle, and presenting as a localized painful swelling within the soft tissue of an extremity. According to some reports, focal myositis may occur in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, and other connective tissue diseases. To our knowledge, there has been no case report of focal myositis associated with rheumatoid arthritis. We report first case of focal myositis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Connective Tissue Diseases ; Extremities ; Humans ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Myositis* ; Sarcoidosis

PURPOSE: The adult tetanus, reduced diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine has been introduced in order to provide individual protection and reduce the risk of transmitting pertussis to infants. We assessed the knowledge and acceptability of the Tdap vaccine around pregnancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional survey of women of childbearing age (20-45 years) who visited obstetrics and gynecologic units of primary, secondary, or tertiary hospitals. They were asked to fill in a questionnaire assessing their knowledge, attitudes, and acceptability of Tdap. RESULTS: The questionnaire was completed by 308 women; 293 (95.1%) had not received information from doctors about Tdap, and 250 (81.2%) did not know about the need for vaccination. A significantly important factor related to subjects' intention to be vaccinated, identified by stepwise multiple logistic regression, was the knowledge (OR 13.5, CI 3.92-46.33) that adult Tdap is effective in preventing pertussis for infants aged 0-6 months. Additionally, 276 (89.6%) considered the recommendation of obstetric doctors as the most influencing factor about Tdap vaccination. CONCLUSION: In Korea, most women of childbearing age seem to be neither recommended nor adequately informed about the vaccination, although our population was not a nationwide representative sample. Information given by healthcare workers may be critical for improving awareness and preventing pertussis.
Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diphtheria ; Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines/*administration & dosage ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice/*ethnology ; Humans ; Immunization/*statistics & numerical data ; Infant ; Logistic Models ; Multivariate Analysis ; Patient Acceptance of Health Care/*ethnology/statistics & numerical data ; Pregnancy ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tetanus ; Vaccination ; Whooping Cough/diagnosis/ethnology